An alibi is a form of evidence used to defend against a criminal charge by demonstrating that the accused was somewhere other than the scene of the crime when the crime was committed.
In Texas, as in other jurisdictions, an alibi is a defense strategy used in criminal proceedings where the accused aims to prove they were in a different location at the time the crime was committed and therefore could not have been involved in the alleged criminal act. The burden is on the defendant to present evidence supporting the alibi, which can include witness testimony, receipts, videos, electronic tracking information, or any other documentation that establishes their whereabouts. Texas law does not have specific statutes governing the use of alibi as a defense; rather, it is a common law principle that is well-established in criminal jurisprudence. The defense attorney would notify the prosecution of an alibi defense in the pre-trial stages, as required by the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, which allows the prosecution to investigate the validity of the alibi claim. If the alibi is convincing, it can lead to an acquittal or dismissal of charges, as it raises reasonable doubt about the defendant's involvement in the crime.
